He does seem like a nice fellow. A grandfatherly-type with a big smile. Who wouldn’t want to stand in a line to see him? In fact, we do stand in line! Some very . . . long . . . lines. No waiting is too long.

Yet, when we look a little closer, something’s not quite right. Santa’s gifts are based on performance. What does he always ask the children?

“Were you a good little boy this year?”

“Yes, Santa, I was.”

“Very good! What would you like to have for Christmas?”

What happens, then, when they aren’t “good?” No gifts. Just some coal to put in the fire to keep them warm. Or at least, that’s the legend.

You have to earn Santa’s admiration before he will give you something. You can’t just be.

What if there was another line? Not one for a jolly old man who will only give you something if you “deserve” it, but one for a person who doesn’t care so much about how good you are.

He cares about you. He knows that no matter how hard we try to do the right thing, it always seems to fall short. And there’s always a bit of disappointment.

Would he give us a gift? Yes. He would give us a gift that would not only be eternal life, but it would also free us from our own worst enemy: ourselves.

And there would be lots of love in the process. Lots of hugs and kisses and reassurances that we don’t need to do anything to earn his approval.

“Excuse me,” nine year-old Troy tapped a young mother’s arm. “Is this the line to see Jesus?” A few kids snickered. “No. This is the line for Santa.” She pointed at the candy cane themed stage under a “MERRY X-MAS” sign. Santa gripped a squirming toddler who squealed as the camera flashed.

Why do kids wait in line and set out cookies for a fake Santa that looks more like a jolly tomato? Troy thought. It’s Jesus’ birthday!

“Is the line to see Jesus in the mall?” Troy gently tugged the lady’s sweater.

“No … but there’s a nativity scene beside the church down the street.” She pointed north.

Crunch, crunch. Troy wasted no time. He ignored the cold snow slipping inside his worn sneakers. I know Jesus lives in heaven now. But if I could just see someone dressed like Him― like the Santa guys―maybe He’d seem more real.

Troy never gave much thought about why Jesus came to earth. Not until his neighbor, Mr. Langley, explained: “Our sin separates us from God because He is holy. Jesus loved us so much that He came to earth and died on the cross. He took the punishment for our sins. When we accept Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and eternal life, He washes our sins away.”

Troy gasped as he neared the church. Black spray paint stained the scene. A manger lay upside down. Figures toppled. Where was baby Jesus? This chilled him more than the brisk wind.Oddly, the surrounding snow glistened in the sun―a perfect Christmas picture ruined. His eyes shifted back to the black paint. I wonder if this is how my sin looks to God.Then he remembered: Jesus came to cleanse my sins.

The wind hushed as a peace settled over Troy. Although he couldn’t see Him, Troy felt Jesus calling him―somewhere deep inside his soul. He remembered Mr. Langley’s words about receiving Jesus’ gift.

I want the real deal. Troy bowed his head. Dear Jesus, please forgive my sins. Come live in my heart and be my Lord. Thank you. Troy couldn’t wait to tell Mr. Langley. And, he didn’t even have to wait in line. This is the best gift ever!

Where is the line for Jesus?As I was walking through one of the malls in Toronto this Christmas season, I couldn’t help but wonder what we were celebrating at this time of the year. It seemed that all the decorations, and the Santa’s booth was geared to selling and receiving gifts. The Santa’s booth was big enough to put up a small house and it was filled with decorations and Christmas music – the music had nothing to do with the real celebration of the season, but it was drawing a crowd of adults with or without kids. The line up to see and sit on Santa’s lap was long – they had young people (dressed in red as “elves”) encouraging them to sign up to have a picture with Santa, and to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. I stopped for a few minutes and wondered to myself, “How many of those parents and kids knew the real meaning of Christmas?” I came home and received the link to this song, “Where is the line for Jesus?” It caused me to reflect on my own childhood, and I couldn’t recall such a scene as I had witnessed in the mall a few minutes ago. Most of the stores and houses in my country of birth had the underlying theme of the birth of Christ. I remembered that we use to walk around the stores, and drive around the city looking at the decorations – even though I had no concept of the true meaning of the reason for the season at that time in my life, I knew that it was a special time of the year. A different reason to celebrate, and the gifts we received had a deeper meaning to it more than it does today. Something was just different about that time of the year, and the scenes of the manger added to that awe, as people of all colour and faith would stop at such scenes and in some essence, pay homage to the birth of Christ. I can’t help but wonder the impact and influence such scenes had on both adults and kids alike. I know that it was imbedded in my own mind and caused me to seek out the truth in my later years. Santa was present in some of the bigger stores, but tucked away in a corner so as not to impede the flow of traffic and sales – I cannot ever recall asking to go and see him or to have a picture with him, but up to this day I still remember the crib scenes, and this song brought back those memories...I wonder if we had big scenes of the manger, or decorations to reflect the real reason for the season, with songs to reflect the birth of Christ and the reason for his birth, if there will be a line up to see Jesus....after all, He gives the greatest gifts, not what we want, but what we need. Where is the line to see Jesus?

The judges have already told me this is a tough one. Lots of great articles in the mix. The winners will be posted on Sunday evening (12-23) before 9pm.

Please keep your eyes open for the January contest that will have paid writing assignments for the top two winners. The ministry we are promoting is an International Ministry. They are involved in many projects. One of the unique things about this ministry is that it is self funded and 100% of donated funds goes directly to the projects. They hold nothing back.

There will be a very simple way to add links to your articles in that they will come pre-built in a paragraph that you can tag on your entry. There will also be a few videos and a new very easy and quick way to get motivated and write without much research if any.

This new contest will start January 1st and run through the entire month.

Did I miss seeing who won Joanne or were you just congratulating them in general? Did that make sense? I figured since you didn't do your wooting it was a congratulations overall.

I'm impressed with everyone who entered. I've wanted to the last two times but have allowed my fear or nerves hold me back. I even had a story in my mind for this topic so everyone who enters is a winner!

Joseph Stanton rode away from the cemetery in the back of a long, black, limousine. He face was covered in tears and his heart shattered into a million pieces. He had just buried his six-year old son, and was numb with grief.

All during Joey's illness he had prayed to God to save his son's life. Kidney disease had ravaged the little boy's body until it could take no more, and finally gave up last week.

Joseph Stanton had been a God loving man since his teenaged years. He gave his life to Christ at the age of thirteen when his mother died, and Jesus helped him through the pain. He was a good man, always caring and sympathetic to those less fortunate. Every week he worked at the homeless shelter downtown and led more than a few souls to Jesus.

Now Joseph's own faith was lacking sorely. How could God take his only child? Rebecca, his wife, had left him last year for another man, and even that didn't shake his faith. He came to realize that she had never really loved him and was incapable of loving anyone, except Joey.

Joseph was lost without his son. He started drinking. He was an attorney, but he referred all his clients to his partner and stopped going to work. He stared at the television day and night, not comprehending anything. He no longer cared if he lived or died.

His friends tried to reach out to him, but he stopped answering the phone. One day, his doorbell rang, and someone started pounding on his door. Joseph finally opened it, and was surprised to see J.T. Hughery standing there. JT was one of the homeless men he had come know and love down at the shelter.

“I ain't seen you down at the soup kitchen lately. Stopped by your office and your pardner tole me where to find you. Sorry to hear about your son, man.”

“Hey JT, come on in.” Joseph led JT into the living room, which was littered from here to there with beer bottles.

“I just came to tell you that I found Jesus! Thought you would be happy for me, given you was always telling me 'bout Him” JT beamed as he spoke.

“I don't believe in God anymore, JT. No God would take my son from me. I prayed for my son's life, and he is dead. Thanks for coming by, but I just want to be left alone.”

“Sorry to hear that, man, but Jesus is for real! If you ever want to see Him, He's down at the shelter in the soup kitchen line. That's where I found Him.” JT shook his head sadly as he headed for the door.

Joseph continued his life as a recluse. He shut everyone out of his life, and within two years lost everything. He eventually became one of the homeless he had volunteered for before Joey died.

Lost and alone, Joseph hitched a train ride out to California, where no one would know him. He walked the streets of Los Angeles for another year. He was a broken man. He sometimes lived at shelters, ate out of garage cans, and slept in alleys.

The one thing that never left his mind was JT telling him of finding Jesus in the soup kitchen line. Three weeks before Christmas while he was asleep in an alley, another homeless man attacked him. He woke up in a charity hospital, barely conscious. When he came to, he realized he had hit rock bottom. An inner voice told him to finally let Joey rest in peace.

The good people at the hospital gave Joseph some clothes to wear and took up a donation of money for a bus ticket home. He cut his hair and shaved his long beard. He was determined to start over again, and he knew just the man to help him do it.

His bus pulled into his home town on Christmas Eve. Joseph got off and went straight to the homeless shelter where he hoped he would find JT working in the kitchen. Sure enough, there stood JT, happily ladling out food at the front of one of the four lines of people waiting for food.

Joseph slipped into the kitchen and surprised JT with a bear hug. JT's face lit up like a Christmas tree.

It was the end of the service. Usually after the final hymn, the pastor pronounces the benediction and we leave. This time, “Please be seated,” came through the pastor’s microphone.

Up the aisle came a children’s choir. Everyone loves children, especially in church! They make thought provoking, if not knee-slapping funny comments during the children’s sermon. They do cute plays and sing in choirs such as the one in front of us now. And usually there are one or two children who are outstanding or “stand out.”

The group in front of us had both. I recognized the “stand out.” He was wearing the purple choir shirt now, but during the Children’s Sermon he had on a red sweater. He came up the aisle for that lesson with his hand already raised. When the youth pastor asked if he had a question, the boy made some kind of statement only those on the front two rows could hear. They laughed, the rest of the congregation smiled, and the lesson continued. Afterward, this boy ran down the aisle past his parents’ pew. Mom got up to get him, only to escort him out a few minutes later for what was imagined to be a potty break.

As the other children were singing, this boy didn’t seem to know the words. He was preoccupied, looking around, making faces, picking his nose at one point, giving someone on the other side of the choir a thumbs-up, and generally being a distraction. Most folks were chuckling, whispering, and/or pointing at him. I had mixed emotions about the whole situation.

We left the service after an announcement about the children’s program being that night. On the way home I asked my husband, “Did you think the thumbs-up boy was cute?”

“You have to admit he’s a cute kid,” was the response.

“I don’t mean is he cute to look at; do you think his behavior was cute?”

“I don’t think it wasn’t cute. What exactly is your point?”

“There were three little girls whose singing was carrying the whole choir. They did everything right; but I bet no one noticed because that boy was so distracting. The words to the song were really worshipful, too. Did you notice that?” I asked.

“Actually, I don’t think I could even tell you anything about the song,” my husband replied.The “stand out” was the center of attention and the outstanding were not noticed. Is that sad? Is it wrong? Is it just the way things are?

What if there actually was a line to see Jesus? Would this child be in it, or would he be in the line to see Santa? Would he even stay in a line? How do you corral behavior like that? Is it just a part of being a boy, or is he, perhaps, ADHD or one of those other attention disorder–type children?

My husband spoke up as all of these questions were going through my mind. “You know, if they harness that energy and direct it, there’ll be no stopping that kid. People will follow him wherever he goes, no matter what he does.”

He’s right! The line to see Jesus or the line to see Santa isn’t just determined by the person folks are waiting to see. People follow the leader; and this child is leader material. So how do we make sure he’s leading that line to see Jesus?

First of all, look where he is. He’s in church, in the children’s choir, the song’s about bowing down to worship the King. Acting like I want him to or not, he’s in the perfect place for a seven-year old to be directed toward Christ.

Second, where are his parents? Right there, on the left side in the third pew, his parents are sitting with this boy’s older siblings. They’re in the perfect place to set an example for this seven-year old about worshiping Christ.

Last, where am I? Complaining about his behavior, or praying for this seven-year old ‘s heart to receive the message the newborn Christ brings? Am I more concerned about these girls getting the attention they deserve than I am for this future leader to understand the message of Christmas? I am in the perfect place to pray for this seven-year old to receive Christ.

Now that I think of it, the line to see Jesus is here! Thank God, we’re in it!

Destiny had put it off as long as she could. Christmas was only one week away and she hadn’t even begun to do any shopping or made any preparations at all for the season. She was totally alone this year and she just could not seem to get in the holiday spirit at all.

Everywhere she went beautiful Christmas lights and decorations were displayed and every store seemed to be playing Christmas music of some sort. But all Destiny thought about was the cost, the hassle, and the stress that seems to accompany the Christmas season for so many people these days.

“I think I’ll just skip Christmas all together,” Destiny told her friend Darla as they sat across the kitchen table from each other. “You can’t do that,” replied Darla, “Why don’t you spend Christmas with me and my family. We’d love to have you join us this year.”“I appreciate it,” Destiny replied, “But I’d rather just be alone and stay at home.”“Well, okay,” said Darla, “But how about at least going to church with us tomorrow? We’re having our Christmas play.”

Destiny wrapped her hands around her coffee cup and shrugged. “I don’t know”, she replied. “Like I said, I’d rather just skip it altogether.”“Okay,” Darla replied, “But if you change your mind just let me know. We would love for you to go with us and Kevin is actually playing the main part in the program. It’s about a little boy that’s standing in line to see Santa and then all of a sudden he asks “Where’s the line to see Jesus?”“Oh, that’s so sweet,” replied Destiny, “You give him a hug for me and tell him I said I’m very proud of him.”“Will do,” said Darla as she got up from the table preparing to leave. “And I’m going to be praying that you change your mind.” Destiny smiled as she stood up too. “Thanks,” she said, “I need all the prayers I can get right now.”

Later on that night as Destiny lie in bed trying to go to sleep all she could think about was what Darla had said about the little boy standing in line to see Santa and asking where the line to see Jesus was. Tears filled her eyes and for the first time in a long time she began to pray. “Lord, I’m so sorry! Christmas is not about buying presents or even just spreading good cheer, it’s about you Lord and what you did for us. You gave us the most precious gift of all on that Christmas morning long ago when Jesus was born. And you sent HIM to die for our sins on that old rugged cross so that we might have everlasting life. I’m so sorry Lord, please forgive me!”

The next morning Destiny woke up with a smile on her face. Now she wanted to go shopping, she wanted to hear Christmas music, and she couldn’t wait to go to the Christmas program tonight. She picked up the phone and dialed Darla’s number.“Hi, Darla, it’s me,” Destiny said, “I’ve changed my mind. I would like to go to the Christmas program with you and your family. What time do I need to be there?”“Oh, that’s great!” replied Darla, “We’ll pick you up around 6 and I’m so glad you changed your mind.”“Yeah, you must have done some powerful praying,” laughed Destiny, “I feel like a brand new person this morning and I’ll see you at 6.”“Okay,” replied Darla, “See you then.”

Destiny hung up the phone and ran to her closet to choose what she wanted to wear that evening. Now, she was actually looking forward to spending time with her friends and seeing the Christmas play.

The play was incredible and confirmed everything that the Holy Spirit had witnessed to Destiny about the night before. Because Christmas truly isn’t about standing in line to see Santa; it’s about standing in line to see Jesus!

Have you seen Jesus and accepted God’s precious gift of His only son? If not, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=OE ... &vq=medium to watch the music video Where’s the line to See Jesus? It’s amazing and can change not only your attitude about the Christmas season but it can change your life too! After you’ve watched the video please visit our Faith Writers Jesus page at: http://faithwritersjesuspage.weebly.com/ to learn more about this Good News and the invitation!

Jumping up and down beside Grandma Jane as they walked to the mall, Zack heard the words ‘Mary’s Boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day’ as a Christmas Carol played from a nearby shop.

He tugged Grandma Jane hands and asked. “Who is Jesus Christ?”

Stopping to look at his innocent four year old face, she said.

“Why Zack, Jesus Christ is Lord and savior of the world. He is the nicest and best friend a child could ever have. It is His birthday we celebrate on Christmas.”

“Really?” Zack asked in wonder.

“Yes really.”

“Then where is He?”

Grandma Jane thought about the question and said, “He is everywhere.”

When he looked at her confused, she continued, “Zack, Jesus is present everywhere.”

“Will He be at the mall?”

“Yes.” Grandma Jane replied, for she did not want to confuse him.

After a few seconds, Zack asked. “Grandma, what does Jesus look like?”

Grandma Jane thought of how best to answer his question and said. “No one really knows what He looks like Zack. But I can tell you the picture on grandpa’s workshop wall shows what he might have looked like when he was older and saved the world.”

Zack remembered the picture and smiled.

On getting to the mall, Zack looked at the different lines of children and wondered which one led to Jesus.

No one at the end of the line looked like the picture on grandpa’s wall.

Maybe Jesus was hiding, Zack thought.

People were singing and talking about him, Zack was sure Jesus would be shy. But today was his birthday, Jesus shouldn’t be shy.

Where would Jesus hide?

Slowly Zack began to smile.

The line to Santa was the longest.

Grandma Jane said Jesus was the nicest and best friend a child could have.

Leaving his grandma, he ran straight to where Santa was sitting passing other children on his way.

Jumping on Santa, Zack reached for Santa’s cap.

Tug, he pulled with all his might.

Santa cried out but Zack paid no attention.

Santa’s cap came off.

Zack searched his head but it wasn’t there.

Maybe Jesus removed it, he thought to himself.

Santa tried to get him off, but Zack held firm.

Tug, he pulled at Santa’s robe.

“Zachary, what are you doing?” Grandma Jane yelled in shock.

Zack turned and said, “I am trying to reveal Jesus. I know He must be the one wearing Santa’s clothes.”

His grandmother lifted him from Santa’s lap and said. “Why would you think Jesus is the one wearing Santa’s clothes?”

“Because you said so grandma; you said Jesus was the nicest and best friend a child could have.”

“Yes Zack that is what I said. But why are you pulling on Santa clothes?” Grandma Jane asked in wonder.

Zack looked around him and saw everyone was staring at him in shock.

Maybe he shouldn’t have tried to find Jesus.

With tears in his eyes he replied, “Because Santa is the nicest person to kids in the mall so he has to be Jesus. But Santa looks nothing like the picture on grandpa’s wall. The picture has Jesus wearing a crown and injury at His side. I thought if I took of the cap and clothes I could show that Jesus was indeed Santa.”

Crying now, Zack continued. “I only wanted to say Happy Birthday not to Santa but to the real Jesus.”

“Oh Zack.” Grandma Jane fell to her knees and hugged him.

Then she said, “Santa isn’t Jesus.”

“He is not?” Zack asked, looking disappointed.

“No Zack he isn’t. Santa is nice, but Jesus is nicer. Santa gives physical presents but Jesus gives us much more.”